Fabric napping machine



April 15, 1941.

H. FLEISHER FABRIC NAPPING IACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR HarlyHeisher:

ATTORNEY April 15, 1941. I FLEISHER 2,238,560

FABRIC MAPPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JQZ.

INVENTOR 28 34 Harryffleisher;

ATTORNEY April 1- H. FLEISHER 2,238,560

FABRIC MAPPING MACHINE I Filed Oct. 21, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEINTORHan-y Flelsher:

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1941 FABRIC NAPPING MACHINE Harry Fleisher,Watertown, Conn, assignor to Princeton Knitting Mills, Inc.,

Watertown,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 21, 1938,,SerialNo. 236,311

16 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of fabrics, and moreparticularly to a machine for napping the exterior surface of a tubularfabric made on a circular knitting machine.

One object of this invention is to .provide a a machine of this typehaving a plurality of fabric napping devices arranged in spaced relationaround the tubular fabric, and each of which is readily adjustable inrespect to the fabric while a the fabric is in operating position.

A further object is to provide a napping machine of the above naturewhich is provided with improved means for helically rotating the tubularfabric while being napped, improved take-up mechanism to wind up thenapped fabric, and common means for driving said rotating means andtake-up mechanism. i

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fabric nappingmachine of the above nature which is relatively simple in construction,inexpensive to manufacture, which will produce an attractive, ornamentaland uniform napped surface on the fabric, and which will be veryefficient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, there has been illustrated on the accompanyingdrawings a machine in which the invention may be conveniently embodiedin practice.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 represents a front view of the fabric take-upmechanism which is located above the napping mechanism, certain partsbeing shown in section to illustrate the interior construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is a broken vertical sectional view through the nappingmechanism, and also showing the bottom receptacle for carrying thesupply of unnapped fabric, the section being taken on the plane 22 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the take-up mechanism shownin Fig. 1, looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows 3-3.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the napping mechanism, looking downwardlyfrom a plane indicated by the arrows 44 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the fabric supply receptacle and drivingmechanism, looking downwardly from the plane 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is'a sectional view taken on the plan 6-45 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane l-'I of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 7 looking in thedirection of the arrow 8 thereof.

Fig. 9 is a side view of one of the centralizing and guiding" rollersand the support therefor, looking in the. direction of arrow 9 in Fig.4.

Fig. 10 is a side view of another roller, looking in the direction ofthe arrow It) in Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is aview similar to Fig. 10, showing the addition of astationary napping brush adjustably supported on the roller supportshown in Fig. 10.

- Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary section through a modifiedconstruction including an inn .flatable rubber tube which permits thedrag of the tensioning means to be adjusted. I I

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral l 0 (seeFig. 1) indicates an upper floor of a building, the numeral ll (seeFig.2) a middle floor, and the numeral l2 (see Fig. 2) a lower floorbelow the floor II. The machine of this invention extends between twosuperposed rooms of a building in' order to accommodate the long lengthof the tubular fabric I3 being napped thereby. The fabric supplymechanism is supported upon the lower ,floor [2 by legs l4. belowthe'napping mechanism which is supported upon 'the'middle floor I! bylegs i5, and the top fabric take-up mechanism which issupported from theupper floor ID as by depending brackets l6. l

Receptacle for unnapped fabric I surrounds and is connected with thelower end of a shaft I8 extending vertically through the center of themachine. V I p In order to facilitate the stacking of the fabric intothe receptacle ll, provision is made of a smooth surfaced domed cap 19(shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2), said cap being removably secured onthe upper end of said shaft [8,. The recep tacle ll' rests upon a. fiatcircular plate 20, which in turn is secured upon an annular rack 2|having gear teeth 22 formed upon its outer periphery. The rack 2| isrotatably mounted in a circular recess 23 formed in. a bed plate 24supported by the legs. H. The lower end of the shaft [8 is secured in abushing 25 in turn secured to. a bar 26 secured to and extendingdiametrically across the rack 2 I.

The rack 2| is adapted to be rotated by a motor 21 connected by a belt28 running over pulleys 29 and 30, the latter being secured on a shaft.31 journaled in brackets 32 and 33 secured on a cross-bar 34 connectedto the legs I4 by brace bars 35 and 36 (see Fig. 5).

In order to drive the overhead fabric take-up mechanism from the motor21, provision is made of a bevel gear pinion 31 secured on one end ofthe shaft 3| and meshing with a horizontal bevel gear 38 secured on anelongated upwardlyextending shaft-39 journaled at its lower end in abushing 40, mounted on the cross-bar 34. The shaft 39 passes upwardlythrough the bed plate 24, and has secured thereto a gear 4| meshing withthe teeth 22 on the rack 2|, whereby the supply receptacle I1 with thepiled-up fabric I3.

carried therein will be slowly rotated. The shaft 39 extends upwardlyfrom the gear -4I through the middle floor I I and is connected by-meansof a universal joint 42 to an inclined shaft 43 which extends upwardlyto the fabrictake-up mechanism suspended from the upper floor I9. The

. shaft 39 is journaled in a bracket 44 (Fig. 9)

secured to a bed plate 45 which'supports the napping-mechanism, and. inturn is supported by the legs I5 resting on the middle floor I I.

Fabric take-up mechanism The upper end of the inclinedshaft 43 isjournaled in a bracket 46 extending outwardly from a stationarybed plate41 supported'on the ceiling ID by thelegs I6 (see Figs, 1,3 and 6). Abevel gear ,48 secured on the end of the shaft 43 is in mesh with 'abevel gear'49 secured on the outer end of a shaft 50 journaled inbrackets'5l and 52 mounted on-the bracket 46 and the bed plate 4-!respectively. A spur gear 53 is secured on the inner-end'of the shaft'50andhas'its teeth in mesh with the teeth 54 of. a circular ring-shapedrack 55 mounted to-slidably -rotate on the fixed ceiling bed plate 47. I

Depending from the rack 55 vat diametrically opposite points area pairof standards 56 and 5'! which are connected to a cross-bar having a pairof parallel downwardly extending arms 59 and 60. Thearms-59 and-60 areeach-provided with lengthwise slots 6|, in which bearing blocks 62 areslidinglysupported. The bearing blocks BZ-are adapted to beclamped invertically adjustedposi-tionsby a nut 63; and said bearing blockssupporttheopposite ends of a cross-shaft 64 journaled therein.

Mounted on the shaft 64 is a spindle 65, upon which is woundthe 'roll'offabric I 3 after being napped. The shaft 64-is'rotated by a round belt66 led-over a pulleyBTsecured on one end of the shaft 64 andovera'pulley 68 secured on a horizontal stud shaft'69-journaledin thearm 59 and a bracket 19 amounted on'the cross-bar 53.

The shaft 69'has at its inner-end a bevel gear II which meshes witha'bevel gear 72 rotatably mounted onthe lower end of a. verticallydepending'stationary shaft: 13. The upper end of the shait13 is rigidlysecured in a bushing 74 secured to the upperfloor I0.

By means of the above construction it will :be seen that when thenappedfabric I3 is received on the roller 64, it-Will betightly woundinto-a roll 'l5 with uniform tensionirrespective of the increase indiameter thereof. This is due to the fact-that thelbelt 66 is permittedto slip on the pulleys 61 and 68 tocompensate for any increase infabrictake-up speed-due to the increase in diameter as the roll offabric builds up;

The fabric I3 is pulled upwardly from the receptacle I! through thenapping mechanism by means of a driven roller 1'6 and two idle rollersI1 and I8 located above and below said roller 16, respectively Theopposite ends 19 and of the -Power for driving the central roller '!6rod 92.

roller I6 are journaled in the bars 59 and 60, respectively, and saidroller 76 is driven by a cone pulley 8| secured to the shaft end I9 andconnected by a belt 82 to a cone pulley 83 secured on the shaft 69. Theroller TI has its shaft ends 84' loosely mounted in the slots 5| in tharms 59 and 60 above the roller 16 and the weight of said roller 1'!presses the fabric I 3 against the driven roller I6. The roller I8 alsohas its shaft ends 85 loosely journaled in the bars 59 and 60 and isdisposed out of alinement with the roller IS in a position to permit thefabric I3 to lead upwardly thereto substantially in vertical alinementwith the axes of the rollers 16 and 11.

at constant speed may be supplied from any suitable source, not shown. 7

The fabric I3 is guided upwardly to the roller 18 from the nappingmechanism by means of an open double-arm spreader frame 95 which servesto flatten out the fabric I3 and position its edges accurately between apair of guide rollers 8'! and 89 which are mounted on a-pair ofparallel'spindies 89 carried by a horizontal bracket 99 (see Fig. 6).,The brackets 99 are'slidably mounted on a cross-rod 9| which extendsbetween the lower ends of the bars 59 and 99, and on which they areadjustable to properly space apart the rollers 81 and 88 by means of ascrew-threaded The rod 92 is adapted to be manually rotated in bearingsin the bars '59 and. 69 by means ofia hand wheel 93 secured at one endto said rod '92,

Thescrewthreads on the opposite ends of I said 'rod -92-'are oppositelypitched to correspond with similarlypitched threads in the bores 94 ofthe brackets so that when thehandle 93 is turned, said brackets 99 willsimultaneously slide in opposite directions along the rod 9! to causethe rollers 81 and 88to adjust the alinement of the tubular fabric 13in'respect to the take-up spindle 65.

Napping mechanism The mechanism for guiding and supporting the -fabricwhile being napped, and which will be assembl ed upon the shaft I8,is'as follows: (see FigsJZ and 4) First-A fabric tensioning disc 95 willbe locked to the shaft I8, as by a key, in a'position above the floor II and below the bed plate 45. The disc'95 has a deep annular groove 96formed in its periphery whereby spaced apart rims 91 and 98 are formed,around which the fabric is adapted to engage. To provide tension or dragupon the fabric sufficient to keep it taut from the disc 95'to theroller 75, a'coiled wire spring 99 is stretched outside the fabric I3and serves to press the fabric tightly against the rims 9'! and 98.

Second-A pair of space'd fiat discs E99 and IIJI are keyed to theshaftI8 above the bed plate 45 by having hub portions I92 and I93,respectively. The discs I 09 and I9! are spaced apart sufiiciently toprovide a space therebetween, over which 'a portion of the fabric I3 maybe stretched across the peripheries thereof Third.A flanged cylindricalmember IE4 is keyed to the shaft I8 above the upper disc I EN. Theperiphery of the member I 94 has an annular groove I05 surrounded byupper and lower flanged rings I06 and I91, against which the fabric isadapted to engage.

mounted for use during the napping operation upon the upper end of theshaft I8 (in place of the dome-shaped cap I9 which is-only used tofacilitate the loading of the unriapped fabric into the machinehand issecuredthereto by a knurled flanged nut I08.

From the above it will be understood that the power will be supplied bythe motor 21 through the shafts 39, 41, I8 and 13 to simultaneouslyrtate the receptacle I1, the disc 95, the discs I00 and IOI, and thecylindrical member I04 as a unit. The napped knitted fabric will at thesame time be wound upon the spindle 85 by the mechanism previouslydescribed.

While the tubular. fabric I3 is being drawn upwardly from the receptacleI1, it will be continuously napped by a plurality'of napping devicesmounted upon the bed plate 45 and arranged to act upon the outer surfaceof the con tinuously-helically upwardly-moving tubular fabric, all ofsaid devices being driven by a motor I09 mounted on the middle floor II(see 2). From the motor I89 a belt H0 is led over a pulley III mountedon the shaft of the motor I09 and also over a pulley II2 secured on the.

outer end of one of eight horizontal shafts II 3 supported by andjournaled in one of eight brackets II4 mounted on the bed plate 45, asclearly shown in Figs. 2, 4, 7 and 8.

The driven shaft II3 has a pinion gear II 5 secured upon its inner end,the teeth of which are in mesh with the teeth of a ring-shaped orcircular rack II6 mounted upon the bed plate 45, the rack IIB beingadapted to be rotated by said gear I I5 for driving eight rotary nappingbrushes I20, to be described below. The eight brackets "H4 and shaftsII3 are equally spaced about the bed plate 45. All of the brushes I20will be simultaneously rotated by the rotation of the rack II5 driven bythe motor I09 through the belt H0 and the pulleys III and H2.

Twisting napping brushes Each of the shafts I I3 has a screw threadedopening. provided in its inner end (as best shown in Fig. '7), intowhich a screw threaded shank II! of a fabric napping brush holder H8 isscrewed. A look nut H9 is associated with each shank II1 to securelyhold each shank in its adjusted position relatively to the shaft I13.Provision is also made on each brush holder II8 of a flat faced nappingbrush I20 mounted in a block I2I which is adjustably secured theree toby means of a thumb screw I22, which passes through the flat side I23 ofa tongue I24 formed on said :block I2I to clamp an inclinedhalfdovetail-shaped section I 25 against a similarly formed side I28 ofa slot I21 provided in the holder II8. By means of the tongue I24 andslot I21 the brush I20 may be adjusted laterally across the axis of theshaft H3, and by means of the screw-threaded shank H1 and the screw}.threaded opening in the shaft II3. the brush I20 may be adjusted axiallyof the shaft II3 Tto control the pressure of the brush I20 upon theportion of the fabric I3, which is stretched between the discs I00 andIOI.

By means of the above construction it will be seen that the brushes I20will all rotate simultaneously on horizontal axes which are disposedradially in a common plane at right-angles' to the axis of the shaft I8,whereby said brushes I20 will act on the fabric I3 to nap it on flatareas by a circular twisting movement while it engages the exteriorsurface of the upwardl helically moving tubular fabric.

Cylindrical napping mechanism In order to additionally nap the exteriorof the tubular fabric I3, in a direction parallel to the shaft I8 andtangent to the tubular fabric I3, provision is made of a plurality ofrotatable cylindrical napping brushes I28 (four in this instance), saidbrushes being equally spaced apart and each being mounted on four shaftsI29, supported by four angle brackets I 30, respectively (see Figs. 2,'7 and 8). A pulley I3I drivingly connected to the brush I28 of one ofthe shafts I29 is. connected by a belt I32 to a pulley I33 secured onthe upper end of a vertical driving shaft I34, mounted in an upper armof the bracket II4. A bevel gear I35 is secured on the lower end of theshaft I34 and is in mesh with a bevel gear I36 secured on the horizontalpulley-driven shaft. II3, whereby the vertical shaft I34 will be driventherefrom.

Thefour angle brackets I30 are eachadjustably mounted on thescrew-threaded ends I31 of horizontal rods I38 which are adapted to belocked in adjusted position thereon by nuts I39 and I40. This adjustmentis provided to permit desired variations in the pressure of thecylindrical brush I20 upon the exterior of the fabric I3. The horizontalrods I38 are each in turn slidably and rotatably mounted upon a bar MI,and are secured thereto in any desired adjusted position by a set screwI42. I

By means of this construction it will be seen that both the vertical andlateral positions of the respective brushes I20 in respect to the fabricI3 may be readily controlled. The bar I. extends outwardly from a ringI43 which rotatably encircles a hub I44 formed on the bracket H4 and issecured thereto by a set screw I45. Adjustment of the ring I43 on thehub I44 is necessary to compensate for the vertical adjustment of eachdisc brush I20.

Centralz'zing and guiding mechanism To insure that the shaft I8 iscentralized and the disc and cylindrical brushes I20 and I28 will rotatesteadily and without vibration, and thus insure even and uniformstretching of the fabric thereabout, provision is made of a plurality ofrollers I46 and I41 adjustably mounted in standards I48 and I49,respectively, arranged uniformly about the bed plate 45. Eight rollersI46 are disposed to engage the fabric I3 between the discs I00 and MI,as shown in Figs. 4 and 9. These eight rollers I46 are each mounted forfree rotation upon a plurality of vertical shafts I50 extending betweenthe arms of the ends I5I of bifurcated bars- I52, which are slidinglysupported to adjust the rollers I46 toward and away from the fabric I3in the standard I48, which in turn is secured upon the bed plate 45.Each bar I52 is adapted to be clamped in adjusted position by a pair ofset screws I53 passing through the standard 48 and engaging in a grooveI54 formed in one side of said bar I52. Each roller I46 is also providedwtih an annular groove I55 which is adapted to straddle the outer edgeof the lowermost disc I00.

Three rollers I41 (see Figs. 4 and 10), which are equally spaced aboutthe fabric I3, are each mounted for free rotation. on shafts I56extending between the arms of the bifurcated ends I51 of bars I58slidably mounted in each of the standards I49. Like the bars I52, eachof the bars I58 is provided with a groove I59 within which the bar I58is clamped in adjusted position by set screws I60. The. rollers-I'M rarearranged to engage the fabric at the upper raised ring portion I06 ofthe cylindrical member I04.

Stationary smoothing out brushes A plurality of stationary smoothing outbrushes I 6| (see Fig. 11) may also be provided to engage the fabric I3above the cylindrical mem-' Each of the brushes IGI' is rigidly" berI84. mounted on a bar I62 which is adjustably mounted in a bracket I63to move "the brush toward and away from the fabric as desired. The'bar162' in each'instance is provided with aigroove I64 into which setscrews I65 extend to clamp'it in its adjusted position. The brackets IE3are'each secured upon standardsMS by screws I56" which a pass throughelongatedholes I61 formed in 'said brackets I63 and are screw-threadedinto'the standards I 49, whereby the respective brushes ISI may bevertically adjusted.

Provision may also be made of means to'control the tension or"drag onthe fabric I3 at the disc*95' by disposing 'an inflatable rubber tubeI68 in the groove 96 thereof (see'Figp12): The cooperating action of thetube I68 and the spring 39 will impose sufficient frictional dragdepending on the air pressure in the tube I 68, which may be adjusted bymeans of a valve 169.

Operation The fabric I3 is loosely packed. manually in thefoldedcondition shown in Fig. 2 intothe receptacle I! while the dome I 9is in position. a The spreader frame 86 will then besubstituted. for

said dome I9, and the upperend of the tubular fabric will be connectedto the take-up mechanism. The motors -21 and IE9 will then be startedcausing .thefabric I3 to be slowlylrotated and pulled upwardly throughthe napping mech anism. The outersurface .ofsaid tubular fabembodied, itis to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose ofillustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to thespecific disclosure, but may be modified and embodied in various otherforms withoutdeparting from its spirit. In short, the invention includesall the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of thefollowing claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, andfor which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine for napping a relatively long length of tubular fabric,a rotatable receptacle for holding a supply of said fabric in collapsedcondition, fabric take-up means located above 40 ric will thus be nappedsuccessively by the ro-' said receptacle, rotatable circular means dis-Qposed between said receptacle and said take-up means, over which saidfabric is continuously stretched, and a plurality of rotatable nappingbrushes spaced about the fabric in alinezment with said circular meansits surface.

2. In a machine forinappinga relatively long.

to engage it andnap tom 'of saidmachine'for carrying a supply of saidfab-ric'in' collapsed condition, take-up means for the nappedfabricatthe top. ofsaid machine, a

plurality of circular fabric-guiding rings'between said receptacle andsaid take-up means, a rotatable napping brush having a flat operating:

face to engage and nap the exterior surface of said tubular fabric on afiat area, means-toadjust said napping brush 'towardand away from heouter surface of: the fabric,-andmeans to rotate said receptacle,saidguiding rings and said fabric take-up meansinsynchronism. I

3. In a machine for napping a relatively-long lengthof tubular fabric,abottom receptaclefor carrying a supply of unnapped fabric in tubularcollapsed condition, take-up means for the napped fabric at the top ofsaid machine, a plurality of circular fabric supporting and guidingmeans disposed between said receptaclesand said take-up means, aplurality of rotatable brushes having flat end napping surfaces for en.-gaging the exterior of said fabric on flat areas of said fabric, and asecond plurality of rotary brushes having cylindrical-nappingsurfacesfor engaging, said fabric, said cylindrical surface brushesbeing nountedon axes at right-angles to the axes of said flat-surfacebrushes.

4. In a machinefor napping ,a-relatively .long length of tubular knittedfabric, a .pair of interior rings tosupport .theinterior of said tubularfabric means to move the fabricina helical direction, and rotary meanshaving a .flat end face in contact with said fabric disposed atspacedintervals about the .exterior of said fabric and between said supportingrings .for napping .it along flat areas thereof.

5. In a machine for .napping ,a relatively long.

length of tubular knitted'fabric, a pair of spaced interior supportingrings. over which said fabric is stretched, means to draw the fabriclengthwise over said rings, means torotate'said rings and the fabricsupported thereby, means to impose a drag. on the fabric to maintain it"taut on said circular means,- and a :plurality' of rotatable brusheshaving flat napping surfaces "disposed outside said fabric and locatedbetween said-ringsfor continuously nappingthe outer surface of saidfabric along fiat areas thereof.

6. In a machine :for napping the exterior surface of a tubular knittedfabric, a pair of looped supportingmeans within said fabric to'maintainit in tubular. form, means to draw the fabric lengthwise over saidsupporting means, a rotary brush having ,a fiat inner surface forpressing .inwardly upon and napping the exterior surface of said fabricbetween said looped supporting means,

andmeans to adjust said brushlengthwisealong the fabric and towardandaway. from the surface thereof.

7-. In a machine for napping theexterior surface of a tubularknittedfabric, a pair of interior supports for maintainingsaid fabric intubular condition, take-up mechanism forcontinuously drawing the mappedfabric over said supports, means to rotate said supports and take-upmechanism as a unit as it isdrawn over said supports, a plurality ofrotary napping fiat-faced brushes located outside said fabric, and meansfor press ing said brushesinwardly-between-said supports upon the outersurface of thefabric to nap iton the flat areas thereof.

8. In a machine fornapping'the exterior sur-' face of atubular-knittedfabric, an interior support for maintaining saidfabric-in-tubular condition, a yieldablydriven;' take-up mechanism forthe napped fabric, means to continuously rotate said support and take-upmechanism, a plurality of rotary brushes located outside said tubularfabric, each brush having a pinion secured thereto, a. circular rackengaging all of said pinions for driving each of said brushes, and meansto drive said rack to cause said brushes to continuously nap theexterior of said fabric.

9. In an apparatus for napping the exterior surface of a longitudinallytraveling tubular knitted fabric, a continuously rotating centralsupporting shaft, means connected with said shaft for maintaining saidfabric in tubular form, means for napping the exterior surface of saidfabric, means to wind up the napped fabric into a cylindrical roll, andan interior ring having a cylindrical portion, a plurality of rollersoutside of said fabric for pressing it upon said cylindrical portion tocentralize and guide said napping mechanism.

10. In an apparatus for napping the exterior surface of a longitudinallytraveling tubular knitted fabric, a continuously rotating centralsupporting shaft, means connected with said shaft for maintaining saidfabric in tubular form, means for napping the exterior surface of saidfabric, means to wind up the napped fabric into a cylindrical roll, andan interior ring having a cylindrical portion and a plurality ofadjustable rollers outside of said fabric for pressing it upon saidcylindrical portion to centralize and guide said napping mechanism.

11. In an apparatus for napping the exterior surface of a longitudinallytraveling tubular knitted fabric, a continuously rotating centralsupporting shaft, means connected with said shaft for maintaining saidfabric in tubular form, means for napping the exterior surface of saidfabric, means to wind up the napped fabric into a cylindrical roll, andan interior ring having a cylindrical portion'and a plurality ofvertically and horizontally spaced rollers outside of said fabric forpressing it upon said cylindrical portion to centralize and guide saidnapping mechanism.

12. In an apparatus for napping a continuously helically moving tubularknittedfabric, means within said fabric to maintain it in tubularcondition, a central shaft for supporting said fabric maintaining means,a receptacle secured to the bottom of said shaft for holding a supply ofunnapped tubular fabric in collapsed bellows-like condition, adetachable dome member located at the top of said shaft to facilitatethe manual stacking of said unnapped fabric in bellows-like form uponsaid receptacle, and means to slowly rotate said receptacle and saidshaft as a unit.

13. In an apparatus for napping the exterior surface of a continuouslyhelically traveling tubular fabric, interior means to support saidfabric, a rotating adjustable member having fiat napping means on itsend surface for engaging and napping the exterior of said fabric on aflat area thereof, resilient means pressing said fabric inwardly againstsaid support to impose a drag upon the longitudinal movement of saidfabric, and an inflatable elastic tube located inside said fabric inalinement with said resilient means to permit the amount of said drag tobe accurately adjusted.

14. In a machine for napping tubular knitted fabric which iscontinuously rotated and moved in a longitudinal direction, a pair ofrings to support the interior of said fabric at a pair of spaced annularlines to maintain it in cylindrical form between said lines, means torotate said fabric support, means to draw the fabric lengthwise oversaid rings, and a rotary napping member having a fiat surface forpressing inwardly upon the exterior surface of said fabric along thecylindrical area thereof between said rings.

15. In a napping machine, a pair of circular rings of the same diameterfor supporting the interior surface of a tubular fabric along a pair ofspaced circular lines, a coiled spring surrounding said fabric andpressing inwardly upon said fabric between said supporting lines toimpose a drag upon the longitudinal movement of said fabric, a secondpair of spaced rings spaced from said drag-imposing rings, means forholding said fabric tightly stretched thereover, means to nap theexterior of said fabric, and means to take up the napped fabric.

16. In an apparatus forv napping the exterior surface of a continuouslyhelically traveling tubular fabric, interior means to support saidfabric at a pair of spaced circumferential lines, a rotating adjustablemember having fiat napping means on its end surface for engaging andnapping the exterior of said fabric on a flat area thereof between saidlines, a pair'of separated interior rings spaced from said firstmentioned,

fabric supporting means, and resilient means pressing said fabricinwardly between said rings to'impose a drag upon the longitudinalmovement of said fabric.

HARRY FLEISHER.

